Method and apparatus for separating oil and gas



u. G. LORRAINE.

METHOD `AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL-AND GAS.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 192|. l

1,396,860. Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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` D. G. LORRAINE. y

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL AND GAS. A APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4, 192|.

1,396,860. PanaNov. 15,1921.

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UNITED 'STATES IATIEZISVIV OFFICE;

DAVID G. LORRAINE, OF LOS ANGELES; ,CALIFORNLL METHOD AND APPARATUS ron snrnna'riisio on. AND cias.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled February 14, 1921'. Serial No. 444.696.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID G. LORRAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles' and State of' California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for 4Separating Oil and Gas, of which the followin is aspecification.- f

. -It isthe object o an improved method and apparatus for separating the constituents of the flow. from, an oil well, so as to positively remove sand and water from the flow, and to collect the maximum uantity of oil and gas completely se arated rom one another. u

`he invention includes apparatus causing the flow from a well to collect in a settling' chamber, so that the sand and water4 and 4 other relatively heavy wastage -will be deposited at the bottom of the chamber where' 1t may be withdrawn; and causing the overflow -of oil to collect in a second chamber,

l' -where the oil vwill settle and'permit the gas to rise. The oil IisAreleased from its'heaviest part which is at the'bottom .of the-second chamber. The gas rising from the flow is i released from above the settling chambers;

i a head, and since the oil flow is increasing,

lsame yto open as the other closes.

vented from sandingup accomplished by the oil and gas releasing \Val'vular discharge means are provided for the o'il `and gas iespe`ct1vely,"and these valves are dependently actuated by varia? tions in the How, so 'as to cause one ofA the arrangement a rbalanced construction is pro- 4 vided which is extremely sensitive in its ac- 4tion, and which will function with but slight movement of the valves -as-the flow varies. The improved construction will also tend .to 4cause the well to flow steadily, and by thus preventing its" flowing in heads,.production Iisincreased,v and the well is premeans, which is so arrangedas to automatically decreasethe gas releasewhile the proportion of gas decreases during the flow of a volume'of gas will collect in theappalratiis for providn a cushioning effect tend-l e head.

In similar manner, when"'there is a tendency of the flow todecrease, the gas release will increase While the oil release decreases;

. i so that the proportion of gas to oil ,in the his invention to provide v the invention.

Bythis i This result is` apparatus is'lessened in order that there ma -be no obstruction to the flow.

he result is an apparatus which is automaticin its action to properly separate the oil and gas, and at the same time collect all lwastage therefrom, and which has been found in practice toin cnease production and to also co lect the maximum quantity of Vgas from the flow. l

The invention will i be'lreadily understood' Patented Nov. 15,1921.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of F F ig. 4fI is a detail section-on the line 4?- 4 of Fig. 1. i

Fig.`5 is a transverse section on the line Fig. 6. is an enlarged sectionI through'the valve mechanism, partlybroken away and showing the lower valves open. Y

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the upper valves open.

The separator consists of a closed casing 1, preferably having a 'man hole 2 in the topthereof, and a sand discharge 3.at its base.- The latter is provided'with a valve 4. A transverse partition 5 is arranged within the casingl atone side thereof, and terminates just below thetop of the casing,

and ata-point spaced' a considerable disf tance from'the bottom thereof. A second partition 6 extends at right lan les from partition 5 across the larger part o the main casing. This' partition terminates at the base of'partition 5 and extends upwardlyr an appreciable distance within the main casing.v A bottom 7 projects from one side of the main casing and is' connected'to partitions 5 and (S'at the angle formed thereby.

By this arrangement it will be seen that an intake chamber is formed in back of partition 5,' which communicates at its lower end withl a settling chamber beneath the partitions. This settling chamber extends upwardly inffront of partition 5, and communicates above partition 6 with the oil collecting chamber formed by bottom 7 andv the two partitions. The gas from the How, will rise over the top of partition 5,'and will also rise from the oil as it overflows into, the oil chamber, so that said gas is collected in the 5 'upper part of the main casing.

The flow from a well-is discharged into the upper end of the intake chamber, and for this purpose a pipe 8 extends through the top of the main casing into said intake 10chamber. An enlarged pipe 10 depends from pipe 8 with the latter extending into the enlarged pipe which is closed at its lowerend by the plate 11 inclined toward the wall of the casing.` The plate may be provided 15 with side extensions 12 forming baies. Pipe 10 is positioned close to the wall of casing 1 and is provided with discharge openings 13, one above another, and shown as downwardly inclined slots.

As the flow passes downwardly through the intake chamber and into the settling chamber, the heavier constituents, forming wastage,'such as sand and water, will collect in the bottom of the settling chamber, and' maybe withdrawn through pipe 3. In order to facilitate .the removal of sand, a llushing pipe1 14 extends into the settling chamber and terminates in a nozzle above discharge 3.' V- An oil discharge pipe 15 extends from the bottom of the oil collecting chamber, and a' gas pipe-16, preferably in alinement there lwith, projects Vthrough `casing 1 just below the top'ofpartition 5. 'Valvular means are connected to these pipes inside of the main casing, and these valves are preferably A sleeve valves; and are dependently actuated as the flow varies, to close one of the sameas the other opens. Y The means for actuating the valves ins cludes a float, 17, suspended within the mainV casing in front of partition 5, and project- Y ing above and at'the Side of the oil collecting chamber. Arms 18 are pivoted to the oat and are journaled upon rods 19 extending transversely Yof the main casing. One of -`the rods, shown as the .upper one, extends through a'bushing-20 to the 4outside of the separator, and is provided with a laterally extending farm 21 having an adjustable counterweight 22. thereon.,. I

' Links 23 extend upwardly and downivardlyrom therespective arms 18, andare y, pivoted thereto, and to -valve actuating arms i. 24, which terminate in rin 25 received on the ends of the rotating s eeves ofthe respective valves for pipes 15 andv 16.

The valve for .each pipe includes a T4 joint `26 connected'to the pipe, and having'seats 27 at its respective ends -for sleeves 28 having outer end closure plates 29. Gaskets 30 arev rovided between the sleevesand the T joint, and the 4sleeves are removably held in place and against rotation by a bolt 31 extending. through the valve structure and through plates 29, with nuts 32 threaded upon the outer ends of the bolt.

Rotatable sleeves 33 are received upon the respective sleeves 28 of a valve, and are held against axial displacement by abutment against the T joint and against flanges 34 provided by closure plates 29. The rings 25 are received upon the outer ends of sleeves 33 and are fixed thereto, as by set screws 35, so that movement of float 17 res nsive to variations of the liquid level .wit in the separator, will rotate the sleeves 33 of the valves.

Circumferentially spaced ports 36 are provided in each sleeve 28, and coperating ports 37 are arranged in sleeve 33. The sides of ports 36 are beveled outwardly as shown at 38, while the sides 39 of ports 37 are similarly beveled inwardly, so that when sleeves 33 are rotated to either open or close the valves, knife edges are provided for cutting sand and the like, and thereby preventing cutting out of the valves.

The ports of the respective valves are so arranged, that when the sleeves of the upper valve have been rotated to close the same, the lower valve will be open, as clearly shown in Fig. 6; and in similar manner, when the sleeves are reversely rotated to open the upper valve, the lower valve is closed (Fig. 7

Lugs 4() are arranged upon T joints 26, ex ding the length thereof, and projecting ove sleeves 33; and lugs 41 are provided upon the inner ends of sleeves 33 for abutment against lugs 40. The various lugs upon the rotating 'sleeves are so arranged that when the upper valve is closed, and the llower valve 1s in full open position, the lugs 41 of the u per valve will impinge lug 40; and when t e upper valve is fully open; the lugs 41 of` the lower valve will lmpinge against their lug 40 with said valve closed.

A construction is thus provided wherein the engagement of lugs 40--41of one valve with the same closed, will register the opposite valve fully open; and it is to be further noted that the abutment of said lugs coperating with the rotating force exerted upon the-valve, will bindthe rotating sleeves 33 to their seats with a twisting force exerted diagonally across said sleeves, so as to tightly close the valve.

When the separator is in operation, the

major portion of the gas rising from the `of oil will pass into the`oil collecting chamber, and during this time the remainder of the gas mixed with the oil will separate and rise in casing 1. The heavier oil will settle to the bottom-of the oil chamber, so that it will always be this heaviest body -of oil which is withdrawn through pipe 15.

As the oil collects in theseparator, the float will rise and thereby increase the oil discharge. At the same time the gas release is cut down, so that gas will collect in casing 'land thereby tend to form a cushion for preventing the well flowing in heads. In similar manner, when the oil flow. diminishes the fioatwill drop and thereby cut oif the oil discharge to acertain extent, while permitting a. larger volume of gas to escape. As a result there will be no gas in the separator tending to hold back the flow.

The improved construction thus provides means for maintaining a comparatively steady flow, and .in practice it has been i found that the float will have but slight movement, due to the automatic regulation ofthe flow asjust described. As a consequence, increased production is obtained, While at the same time completely separating the gas from the oil, and also removing Vall sand and the like.

' the invention.

What I claim is: y

1. The method of separating the constituents of the iow from a well which consists of discharging said flow into a settling chamber, collecting the rising constituents of the flow in .a second settling chamber, increasi'ngly discharging the oil from said second settlingchamber and decreasingly discharging the gas rising therefrom as the flow increases, and decreasingly discharging the oil `from the second settling chamber and increasingly discharging the gas rising from the same as the flow decreases.

2. The method of separating the constituents of the flow from a Wel-l which consists of dischar `ng said flow into a settling chamber, with rawing the settled constituents as desired, collecting "in a second settling chamber, only the rising constituents which have passed through the lower portion of the first settling chamber, withdrawing the settled constituents from the second l chamber, and collecting the lighter constit- `therewith over said Wall, and valvular disuents rising from the settling chambers. -3. The method of separating the constit- 'uents of the How from a Well which consists of discharging said ilow into a settling chamber, withdrawing the settled constituents by manually controlled means, collect-A ing in a second settling chamber, only the rising constituents which have passed through the lower portion of the rst settling chamber, automatically withdrawing the settled constituents from the second settling chamber as the fiow increases, and col-` lecting the lighter constituents rising from the settling chambers.

4. The method of separating the constit-v the same, respectively, proportional to the' ilow from thexwell.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising" a settling chamber, a

second settling chamber .communicating therewith,.and valvular discharge means for the oil andV gas which is in said second settling chamber and above the same respectively, saidimeans being dependently actuated toV4 cause opposite opening and closingV of said valvular means.

6. An apparatus of the character `de scribed comprising a settling chamber having a wall, a second settling chamber communicating therewith over said wall, and valvular discharge means for oil and gas which is in said second settling chamber and above the same respectively, said means beingV dependently actuated to cause Vopposite I opening uand closing of the valvular meansi 7. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tank having a partition forming a settling chamber and a second chamber communicating therewith over said partition, and valvular discharge means for oil` and gaswhich is in settling chamber and above the same respectively, saidmeans being actuated to `cause opposite opening and closing of the valves.l

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settling chamber having a wall, a second settling chamber communicating therewith over said wall, and valvular discharge means for oil and gas which is in said second settling chamber and above the same respectively, said means being actuated'to cause opposite opening and closing of the valves proportional to the ilow into the settling chambers.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settling chamber having a wall, a second settling chamber. communicating --ing a wall, a second settling chamber communicating therewith over said wall, valvutively.

lar discharge means for oil and gas which is in said second settling chamber and above the saine respectively, and a float actuating said Valves t0 causeI opposite opening and closing o the-same proportional to the flow into the settling chambers and so as to close the gas discharge valve as the iiow increases.

11. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settling chamber, an otake therefrom, flushing means discharging into said ofl'take, a second settling chamber arranged to collect the rising constituents from the first settling chamber, and means for separately discharging oil and gas from the second settling chamber and from above thef'settling chambers, respec-` 12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settling chamber having oil and gas discharge valves, a ioat in said chamber, and an operating connection between said oat and said valves,said valves being arranged` for respective opening and closing movement and including means functioning at full opening of one of said valves to seat the opposite valve.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settlinv chamber having oil and gas discharge va ves, said valves each comprising a sleeve having ports and a rotatable member thereon including a sleeve having coperating ports, lugs u on said rotatable members, and stops adapte to be impinged thereby, a float in the settling chamber, and an operating connection between said iloat and the rotatable sleeves of the valves, the ports of said valves being arranged for respective opening and closing movement as the rotatable sleeves are turned, said valves being also arranged so that at full opening of one valve the lug of the opposite valve will impinge its stop for Aseating the rotatablevsleeve of said second valve. ,i

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a settling chamber having oil and gas discharge valves, said valves' each `comprising a sleeve having ports and a rotatable sleeve thereon having co rating ports, lugs upon said rotatable s eeves and stops adapted to be engaged thereby, and means for dependently actuating sald rotatable sleeves, said valves being so arranged that when the lug upon the rotatable sleeve of one valve impinges its stop said valve will be closed and the rotatable sleeve of the second valve will be turned to full open position.

15. An apparatus of` the character described, comprising a settling chamberhaving oil and gas discharge valves', said valves each comprising a sleeve having ports and a rotatable sleeve thereon having coperating ports, lugs upon said rotatable sleeves and stops adapted to be engaged thereby for seating the rotatable sleeves upon the first sleeves, and means for dependently actuating said rotatable sleeves proportional to the flow into the settling chamber, said valves being "so 'arranged thatwhen'the lug upon the" rotatable sleeve of one valve impinges its stop, said valve will be closed and the rotatable sleeve of the second valve will be turned to Afull open position.

16. .An apparatus of the character described, comprising a settling chamber having oil and gas discharge valves, said valves each comprising a sleeve having ports and arotatable sleeve lthereon having coperating ports, lugs upon said rotatable sleeves -and stops adapted to be engaged thereby chamber, collecting the rising constituents in a second settling chamber, and opening oil and gas discharge means respectively, as the proportions of the oil and gas in the flow increase.

18. The method of separating the constituents of the How from a well, which consists of discharging said flow into a settling chamber, withdrawing the settled constituents collecting only the rising constituents which have passed through the lower portion of said settling chamber, and separately withdrawing the lighter and the heavier constituents of the collected How.

19. The method of separating the coristituents of the flow from a well which consists of collecting said How in a settling chamber, collecting the rising constituents only after having passed through said settling chamber, and opening oil and gas discharge means respectively, as the proportions of oil and gas in the How increase.

20. The method of separating the constituents of the iiow from a well which c onsists of discharging said flow into a settling chamber, collecting the rising constituents of the flow only after having passed through said settling chamber, and increasingly and decreasingly opening dischargemeans for the oil andA for the gas rising from the same, respectively, proportional to the flow from the well.

21. An apparatus of the character described comprising a settling chamber, a chamber communicating therewith so as to receive the rising constituents therefrom only after having passed through said settling chamber, and valvulardischarge means for oil'and gas communicating with said 5 second chamber, and actuated according to the proportions of oil and as in the flow.

22. An apparatus of t e character described comprising a settling chamber having a bafie arranged to cause dow into said 10 settling chamberat one side of said' bale and thence upwardly beyond said baie, and valvlllarwliscllalge means for oil and as beyond said baiiie, and actuated accordlng to the respective proportions of oil and gas.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

DAVID G. LORRAINE. Vitnessesz J. IV. SHEELEY, CHAS. BAGG. 

